Dispenser for rolled sheets of material



May 2, 1967' J. SOLOMON DISPENSER FOR ROLLED SHEETS OF MATERIAL Filed July 29, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

Jack Solomon FIG.2

ATTORNEY y 2, W67 .1. SOLOMON 3,317,099

DISPENSER FOR ROLLED SHEETS OF MATERIAL Filed July 29, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-9 I FIGM FIGJO H612 May 2, 1967 J. SOLOMON 3,317,099

DISPENSER FOR ROLLED SHEETS OF MATERIAL Filed July 29, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 27B FIGQ3 25 47? f A L gs;

Unitcd States Patent 3,317,099 DISPENSER FOR ROLLED SHEETS 0F MATERIAL Jack Solomon, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignor to Lincoln Metal Products Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 29, 1966, Ser. No. 568,868 Claims. (Cl. 225-23) This invention relates in general to a dispenser for sheet material packaged in rolls on a core.

The use of rolled sheet material, as for example, metallic foil, waxed paper, plastic wrap, paper towels, and the like, have become common household items utilized by homemakers for wrapping various kinds of goods and commodities, and more particularly comestibles. Such sheet material is generally packaged in rolls on tubular cores which are then individually retailed in suitable boxes or containers. Frequently, the retail container is utilized as the dispenser for the rolled sheet material distributed therein. Because of the various rolled sheet material utilized by the homemaker, it was heretofore necessary to have different kinds of sheet materials. More often than not the various types of sheet materials utiilzed were not necessarily located at any central point in the kitchen. As a result a housewife would frequently waste a considerable amount of time in searching for the desired package of sheet material.

Heretofore, various attempts have been made to provide a dispenser for storing and dispensing therefrom all of the more common types of sheet material utilized in and about the household, as for example, metallic foil, waxed paper, plastic wrap, paper towels, and/or the like. Certain of the known dispensers simply consisted of a cabinet in which the respective rolls of sheet material were rendered freely rotatable about a spindle or rod so that the material was dispensed merely by applying a pull on the hanging end of the sheet material contained therein. However, the disadvantage of a dispenser of this type was that the free-wheeling of the rolled material about the spindle usually caused more than the required amount of material to be dispensed. Consequently, this type of dispenser resulted in a considerable amount of waste, as the housewife would normally tear off more than what was necessary to fill the immediate need. Also, with such dispensers, there is no provision for effecting the rewinding of the material in the event more than the required amount was pulled off the roll.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention, to provide an improved dispenser wherein the rolled sheet of material adapted to be dispensed therefrom can be precisely dispensed in any desired amount for any particular application or use thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for housing a plurality of rolls of sheet material within a single housing wherein each of the respective sheet materials stored therein may be rolled and unrolled to any desired length.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser in which the loading and unloading thereof can be readily attained with a maximum of ease and a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-roll dispenser having but a single slotted opening through which the free end of the respective sheets of material is dispensed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for rolled sheets of material with a cutter having its cutting edge disposed along the edge portion of the slot through which the respective sheets of material are dispensed in order to facilitate the severing of the dispensed portion of the sheet material from the dispensing roll.

Another object is to provide a cutter which is pivotly connected adjacent the edge of the slot through which the material is dispensed in a manner so that the cutter is pivoted to an inoperative position during the loading and/or unloading of the rolled sheet material from the dispenser to avoid injury to the operator.

Another object is to provide a dispenser for rolled sheets of material in which the rolled sheet of material is rotated in only one direction during normal operation, and which rolled material is prohibited from being rewound unless an axial force is applied to the support means of the roll of material.

Another object is to provide a dispenser for rolled sheets of material constructed and arranged to prohibit unintentional rewinding of the rolled sheet of material.

Another object is to provide a dispenser for rolled sheets of material that is relatively simple and rugged in construction, positive in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Another object is to provide a dispenser provided with roll-supporting means which prohibit accidental and/or unintentional rotation of the roll of sheet material disposed therein.

Another object is to provide a multiple-roll dispenser with improved positive acting roll-supporting means constructed to effect a positive control in the rolling and unrolling of the sheet material contained therein.

The foregoing objects and other features and advan* tages of this invention are attained by a roll dispenser for dispensing sheet material packaged in rolls upon tubular cores. The dispenser comprises in combination a housing having a pair of opposed side wall forming means which have interconnected therebetween a top wall and a back wall to define an open-front housing. A closure is pivotly connected between the side wall forming means of the housing for movement between an open and closed position. The lower edge of the closure defines with the side and upper wall portions of the housing a slotted opening through which the sheet of material contained therein is dispensed.

In accordance with this invention, a cutting means is pivotly connected to the closure so that the cutting edge thereof projects beyond the bottom edge of the closure to provide the means by which the dispensed length of sheet material can be severed from the roll. The cutting means is pivotly mounted to the closure for movement between an operative cutting position when the closure is disposed in its closed position and an inoperative cutting position when the closure is pivoted to an open position. If desired, the cutter is constructed and arranged so as to automatically pivot from its operative to inoperative position as the closure is pivoted from its closed to open position. Accordingly, the movement ofthe cutting means to the inoperative position avoids any injury to the operator in loading and/ or unloading the dispenser with rolled sheet of material, as the cutting means is disposed in an out-of-the-way non-cutting position.

A roll-supporting means is disposed between the side wall assemblies of the housing. In a multiple-roll dispenser the plurality of roll-supporting means are vertically spaced one above the other for supporting therebetween the respective rolls of sheet material to be dispensed. In accordance with this invention, the roll-supporting means comprises a spindle which is rendered detachably connected between the side wall forming means of the housing to facilitate the loading and unloading of the rolled material therein. The spindle is constructed and arranged so that the core of the rolled material is frictionally secured thereto so that the dispensing of the sheet material is attained by effecting rotation of the spindle. To facilitate the rotation of the spindle a turn knob is connected to one end thereof, which knob is adapted to be extended outwardly of the housing through appropriate opening formed in the adjacent side wall forming means. The other end of the spindle is provided with a springloaded bullet catch adapted to engage with the opposed side wall forming means of the housing to bias the rollsupporting means between the side wall forming means of the housing.

Cooperating means are provided for effecting rotation of the spindle in one direction only, which means are rendered inoperative by the application of an axial force applied to the end of the spindle. Accordingly, the spindle normally is rotated in one direction only, namely in a direction for effecting unwinding of the sheet material from the roll. In this manner unintentional rewinding of the sheet material is obviated, unless a positive axial force is applied to the end of the spindle to effect disengagement of the cooperating means whereby the rolled material may be rotated in an opposite direction to effect rewinding.

A feature of this invention resides in a dispenser constructed and arranged so as to provide a rugged assembly which can be readily assembled with a minimum of component parts and/or manufacturing operations.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a cutting edge pivotly mounted to the closure means and which is adapted to be moved between operative and inoperative positions as the closure is moved between closed and opened positions respectively.

Another feature of this invention resides in an improved roll-supporting means which is rendered readily detachable to the housing of the dispenser to facilitate the loading and unloading of the rolled sheet material thereon.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of cooperating means for effecting the normal rotation of the roll-supporting means in one direction only.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of means to prohibit unintentional rewinding of the material about the supply roll.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered tn view of the drawings and specifications in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple-roll dispenser of the instant invention illustrated with its front closure in open position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken along line 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 shown to a reduced scale, in which the closure is a partially open phantom in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the dispenser of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, illustrated with the closure in its closed position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 on FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed sectional view illustrating the manner in which the cutter is pivotally connected to the closure for movement between operative and inoperative positions.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevation View of a dispenser utilizing a slightly modified cutter construction.

FIG. 9 is a detailed elevation view of the inside wall member of the side wall assembly.

FIG. 10 is an end view of the side wall member of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a detailed elevation View of the opposed inside wall member of the side wall assembly of the housing.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the detailed end view of the side wall assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed side view of the spindle for supporting the roll of sheet material in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a modified roll-supporting means.

FIG. 15 illustrates another modified roll-supporting means.

FIG. 16 is a detailed end view of the turn-knob construction adapted to be utilized in conjunction with the spindle for the rolled sheet of material.

FIG. 17 is an end view of the turn-knob of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along line 1818 of FIG. 15.

Referring to the drawings, there is best seen in FIG. 1 the dispenser 20 of the present invention. In the illustrated form of the invention the dispenser 20 is illustrated as comprising a housing 21 for containing a plurality of rolls of sheet material, as'fo'r example metallic foil, waxed paper or plastic wrap, and paper towels 22, 23, 24, respectively. Each of the respective rolls of sheet material 22, 23, 24, is wound about a tubular core 25 and is supported within the housing about a roll-supporting means 26 as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The housing 21 comprises a pair of opposed side wall forming means 27, 28, having connected therebetween a top wall 29 and a rear wall 30 so as to define an openfront. Referring more specifically to FIG. 2, each of the side wall assemblies 27, 28 comprises an inner and outer wall member 27A, 27B; 28A, 28B, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer wall member 27A, 28A, of the respective side wall forming means 27, 28, is provided along the top and forward edge portions thereof with an inwardly turned beaded construction 31 whereas the rear edge portion of the outer wall member 27A, 28A, is provided with a laterally and inwardly turned flange portion 32. The respective complementary inner wall members 27B, 28A, of the respective sidewall forming assemblies 27, 28 have their respective front and top wall portions arranged to be received within the internal beaded portion 31 of the complementary outer wall member 27A, 28A. The edge along the rear inner wall member 27B, 28B is provided with a laterally extending and inwardly turned flange 33 which complements the inwardly turned flange portion 31 of its corresponding outer Wall member 27A, 28A.

In the illustrated form of the embodiment, side wall forming means 27, 28 is made wider at the bottom than at the top. Accordingly, the figuration of the respective side wall forming means 27, 28 is substantially that of a truncated triangle.

Connected between the upper ends of the respective side wall assemblies 27, 28 is the top wall 29, and accordingly the top wall may be suitably secured to and lbetween the respective side wall forming assemblies 27, 28 by any suitable means, such as spotwelding, soldering, or by suitable mechanical fastening means, such as screws or the like. The back wall 30 of the housing has its end portions disposed between the complementary inturned flanges 31, 32 of the respective side wall assemblies 27, 28, and secured thereto by a suitable fastening means, as for example screws and/or the like. If desired the lower or bottom edge 34 of the rear wall 30 may be slightly curved in a forwardly direction as indicated in FIGS. 1 land 3. Thus, the inwardly turned portion 34 of the rear wall 39 defines a bottom wall portion for the housing 21.

If desired the rear wall 30 may be provided with an outwardly extending dish-shaped portion or recess 35 adjacent the bottom thereof to provide an enlarged internal volume adjacent the bottom portion of the housing 21 to accommodate a large roll of sheet material, as for example a roll of paper towels 24 or the like.

A closure 36 is pivotally mounted bet-ween the side wall forming means 27, 28 of the housing 21 for movement between open and closed positions. As shown, the closure comprises a front wall 36A defining panel which has integrally formed laterally extending flange portions 37. A means, such as pivot pins 3 8 or the like, hingedly secures the lower portion of the closure 36 to the adjacent side wall forming means 27, 28 of the housing 21 for movement between open and closed positions. As noted in FIG. 3 the lower edge 39 of the closure 36 defines with the side and rear walls of the housing a slotted opening 40 through which the free ends of the respective sheets of rolled material supported on the roll-supporting means 26 are dispensed.

A cutter 41 provided with a serrated cutting edge 41A is pivotly connected between the flanges 37 of the closure 36 for movement between an operative cutting position when the closure 36 is in its closed position, and inoperative non-cutting position when the closure 36 is pivoted to the open posit-ion. As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 7 the cutter 40 comprises an elongated member which is angularly bent along a longitudinally extending fold line F. The serrated cutting edge 41A is normally adapted to extend beyond the bottom edge portion 39 of the closure 36. Accordingly, when the closure 36 is disposed in its closed position as indicated in FIG. 3, the cutter 41 is rotated so that the serrated cutting edge 41A thereof projects below the bottom edge 39 of the closure 36. Laterally extending pivot pins 42 pivotally mount the cutter 41 for movement with respect to the closure. Thus, in the open position of the closure, the cutter 41 may be pivoted relative the closure to an inoperative position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7 wherein the serrated cutting edge 41A is rotated to overlie the plane of the closure 36. With the cutter rotated, the rolls of sheet material may be loaded or unloaded onto their respective roll-supporting means 26 without having ones hands interfere with the cutting edge 41A of the cutter, as would be possible if the cutter 41 were not pivoted to an inoperative position to overlie the plane of the closure 36.

By angularly deforming the cutter 41 as seen in FIG. 1, the center of gravity of the cutter 41 is such that it will automatically pivot to its inoperative position when the closure 36 is moved to an open position as illustrated in FIGS. '1 and 7. Accordingly, when the closure 36 is pivoted to its closed position, gravity will effect the pivoting of the cutter 41 relative thereto so that the serrated cutting edge 41A thereof is disposed below the bottom edge 39 of the door in operative cutting position to effect severing of the sheet material when the rolled material is dispensed.

A handle means 43 is suitably connected to the closure 36. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 a channel member 44 is fixed to the closure for receiving a decorative slide panel 45 to which a handle 46 is connected.

In accordance with this invention a plurality of rollsupporting means 26 are disposed between the side wall forming means 27, 28 of the housing 21 in vertically spaced relationship. In the illustrated form of the invention, three such roll-supporting means 26 are provided for supporting therebetween the various rolls of sheet material to be dispensed. In the illustrated form of the invention the arrangement is such that the largest of three rolls of sheet material to be dispensed is preferably supported on the bottom-most roll-supporting means 36 to take advantage of the enlarged volume of the housing in this area.

As best seen in FIGS. 13 to the respective rollsupporting means 26 comprise a spindle 47 which is illustrated as being cruciform in cross-section. The opposed end portions 47A, 47B, of the spindles 47 are provided with enlarged flanges or portions which are specifically sized to be received within the core 25 upon which the rolled sheet material is packaged. As best seen in FIGS. 13 to 15 the enlarged end portions of the respective spindles are proportioned so that they will frictionally engage with the interior surface of the respective standard cores of the rolled sheet material supported thereon. Thus, as will be hereinafter described, rotation on the spindle 47 will effect rotation of the rolled sheet material frictional-1y secured thereto.

Means are provided for biasing the respective spindles 47 between the opposed side wall forming means 27, 28 of the housing. As best seen in FIG. 1 the biasing means comprises a spring-loaded bullet catch 48 which is mounted in one end of the spindle 47. The bullet catch 48 comprises a thimble housing 49 which is fitted into a bore formed in one end of the spindle 47. A coil spring 50 is encompassed in the housing 49 to exert a bias on a bullet catch 48 which is held captive within the thimble housing 49 by spring 50 in the normal position thereof.

The other end of the spindle 47 has connected thereto a turn-knob 52. As shown, the turn-knob 52 is provided with an internal bore 53 adapted to receive the projected end portion 54 of the spindle. Accordingly, it will be noted that the side wall forming means 28 adjacent to the turn-knob end of the respective spindles 47 is provided with an opening 55 through which the turn-knob 52 may be extended.

A ratcheting means 56 is operatively associated with the turn-knob 52 to normally prohibit unintentional rotation of the spindle 47 in a rewinding direction. As shown, the ratchet means 56 comprises a disc or flange which is connected to the turn-knob 52, and which in the operative position of the spindle is adapted to be disposed adjacentthe inner wall 27B member of the adjacent side wall assembly 27. As seen in FIGS. 16 and 17 the surface of the disc or flange 56 adjacent the inner side wall member 27B of the adjacent side wall assembly 27 is provided with a plurality of annularly disposed cam surfaces 56A which terminate in a shoulder 56B to define a series of ratchet-like teeth in the planar surface of the disc 56. cooperatively associated with the cam surfaces 56A defining the ratchet teeth is a spring pawl 57 which is preferably blanked out of the inner side wall member 27B of the side wall assembly 27. Accordingly, it will be noted that the cam surfaces 56A of the ratchet disc 56 are inclined so as to effect rotation of the turn-knob 52 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3 to effect the dispensing of the sheet of rolled material from the rolls supported thereon. Accordingly, it will be noted that rotation of the spindle 47 in a clockwise direction is prohibited due to the shoulders 56B abutting against lateral projection 57A of the pawl 57. With this construction it will be noted that unintentional rewinding of the rolled material is prohibited after it has been dispensed. Consequently, the free end of the sheet material cannot be inadvertently rewound upon the supply roll disposed within the dispenser to render the free end of the material inaccessible. Accordingly, the free end of the rolled material is always insured of being projected through the slotted opening 40 of the housing 21 once the roll has been properly installed upon its respective spindle.

However, in the event that more than the desired amount of material was unwound from the supply roll, rewinding may be effected, but the rewinding can be effected only by a positive act of the operator. To effect rewinding of the rolled material, an axial pressure must be applied on the end of the turn-knob in the direction indicated by arrow 58 to depress the ball catch 48 within the end of the spindle. In doing so, the spindle 47 is laterally displaced away from the adjacent side wall assembly 27 to effect a disengagement of the ratchet pawl 57 from the ratchet disc 56. When such disengagement has been effected by this axial pressure exerted on the turnknob, the latter can then be turned in either direction. Consequently, upon release of the axial pressure, the spring 49 of the ball catch 48 again eXerts a bias on the spindle to again effect engagement between the ratchet pawl 57 and the ratchet disc 56.

From the foregoing it will be noted that with the dispenser described, a roll of material may be readily loaded and unloaded from the respective spindles 47 as each of the spindles 47 is rendered readily detachable from between the respective side wall assemblies of the housing. Accordingly, the ball catch end 48 of the spindle 47 may be readily moved laterally outward through the open end of the housing to a point Which would then permit the removal of the turn-knob 52 from the opening 55 in which it is supported. To insert the spindle, the turnknob end 52 of the spindle 47 is first inserted through the appropriate opening 55 in the adjacent side wall portion 27 of the housing, and the ball catch 48 end of the spindle is then repositioned in a latching recess 60 formed on the inner side wall 283 of the housing. A cooperating wire rod support 61 is disposed adjacent the latching recess 61 to provide a firm support and guide for the ball catch end 48 of the spindle 47.

Referring to FIG. 13 the spindle 47 illustrated is proportioned so as to engage the core of a standard roll of aluminum foil.

In FIG. 14 the spindle 47 has been slightly modified so as to accommodate the standard core of a supply roll of waxed paper.

The spindle of FIG. 15 is dimensioned so as to accommodate the standard core of a roll of towels. Thus it will be noted that each of the respective spindles 47 in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 is substantially similar, except for the particular dimensions required to frictionally engage the core of the various rolls of sheet materials.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the respective rolls can be readily loaded and unloaded from their respective spindles. Also the cutting edge of the cutter 41 is rendered readily pivoted between an operative cutting position and an inoperative non-cutting position to enable or facilitate the removal and/ or positioning of a roll of sheet material onto its respective cylinders in a manner to render the operator free from injury. Also, the spindle construction is such that a sheet of material can be dispensed from the roll to any desired amount, and at the same time prohibit any unintentional rewinding of the dispensed material unless a positive axial displacement of this spindle is effected.

In the form of the invention of FIG. 8, the cutter 80 is illustrated as a flat blade pivotly connected to the closure, and which blade or cutter 80 is required to be manually pivoted between operative and inoperative positions. In all other respects, the dispenser of FIG. 8 is similar to that of FIG. 1.

While the instant invention has been illustrated and described with respect to the disclosed embodiment thereof, it will be readily appreciated and understood that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for dispensing sheet materials packaged in rolls on tubular cores comprising in combination:

a housing having opposed side wall forming means, a

top wall connected therebetween, and a back forming wall connected between said side wall forming means to define an open front for said housing,

a closure for said open front of said housing,

means for pivotly connecting said closure to the side wall means of said housing for movement between open and closed positions,

a cutter having a cutting edge,

means pivoting said cutter to said closure whereby the cutting edge of said cutter is disposed in cutting position adjacent the bottom edge of said closure in the closed position of said closure and pivoted to inoperative position in the open position of said closure,

said side wall forming means defining with said closure a slotted opening at the bottom thereof adjacent said cutter, said slotted opening being substantially coextensive in width to said cutter, and

roll-support means mounted between the side wall means for supporting therebetween a roll of sheet material to be dispensed.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutter is angularly deformed so that said cutter is automatically pivoted between operative and inoperative positions as said closure is moved between its closed and opened positions respectively.

3, The invention as defined in claim 1 and including a plurality of roll-supporting means mounted between the side wall forming means for supporting within said housing the rolls of sheet material to be dispensed,

said roll-support means being disposed in vertically spaced relationship to support the respective rolls of sheet material one above the other whereby the free end of the material of each said roll overhangs in 5 superimposed planes substantially parallel to and adjacent said closure with the free ends of the respective sheets extending through the slotted opening formed in the bottom of said housing.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said roll-support means comprises:

a spindle extending between the side wall forming means, said spindle being adapted to extend through the core of the roll supported thereon,

means for detachably supporting said spindle on said side wall forming means,

and complementary means formed on said spindle and said side wall forming means to effect rotation of the spindle in a dispensing direction only.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said 20 roll-support means comprises:

a spindle extended between the side wall forming means, said spindle being adapted to extend through the core of the roll of sheet material supported thereon,

said spindle having a turn-knob connected to one end thereof,

and a spring-loaded catch connected to the other end thereof,

one of said side wall forming means having an opening formed therein for receiving and supporting the turn-knob end of said spindle,

and means defining a latch connected to the other side wall forming means for receiving and supporting the spring load catch end of said spindle, whereby said spindle is detachably supported between said side wall forming means.

6. The invention as defined in claim wherein:

said turn-knob end of said spindle includes a means defining a ratchet,

and a cooperating ratchet pawl is connected to the adjacent side wall forming means to normally engage with said ratchet means for permitting rotation of said spindle in one direction only, and whereby an axial force applied to the end of said turn-knob effects disengagement of said pawl with the ratchet means of said turn-knob whereby said spindle can be rotated in an opposite direction.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said ratchet means is integrally formed with said turn-knob.

8. The invention as defined in claim '6 wherein said ratchet means includes:

a laterally extending flange connected adjustment one end of the spindle adjacent said turn-knob,

said flange having a plurality of cam segments formed on the surface thereof,

each of said segments traversing a predetermined angular distance,

and each of said segments terminating in a shoulder which is adapted to engage said pawl to prohibit rotation of said spindle in a rewinding direction unless an axial pressure is exerted on the turn-knob and of the spindle.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said side wall forming means includes:

an outer wall member and an inner wall member,

means connecting said inner and outer wall members together.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each of 70 said side wall forming means includes an inner and outer wall member,

each of the respective outer wall members terminating in an inwardly turned beaded edge along the front thereof and an inwardly turned flange along the rear edge thereof,

each of said inner wall members having its respective front edges secured to the beaded edge of its complementary outer side wall member and having an inturned flange extending along the opposed edge thereof complementing the flange of said outer side wall member,

and said back forming wall being connected between the complementary inturned flanges of said inner and outer side wall members. 11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein one of said side wall forming means is provided with aligned openings in the respective inner and outer wall members thereof,

and a latch connected to the inner wall member of the other wall forming means, and said roll-supporting means including a spindle detachably connected between said side wall forming means,

said spindle including a turn-knob connected to one end adapted to be extended through the opening formed in one end of the housing,

and a ball catch connected to the other end of said spindle,

said "ball catch being adapted to engage the. catch formed on the other wall forming means.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 and including:

a ratchet means connected to the knob end of said spindle, said ratchet means being disposed contiguous to the inner wall member of the adjacent wall forming means;

and a spring pawl blanked out of said adjacent inner wall member to engage said ratchet means to normally prohibit rotation of said spindle in one direction.

13. A multiple-roll dispenser for dispensing sheet material packaged in rolls on tubular cores comprising:

a pair of opposed side wall forming means, a top wall connected therebetween, and a back forming wall to define an open front housing,

a closure for the open front of said housing,

means for pivoting said closure to the side wall forming means for movement between open and closed positions,

said closure having its lower edge defining with the wall portions of the housing a slotted opening,

a cutter having a cutting edge pivotly connected to said closure adjacent the bottom edge thereof whereby said cutting edge projects beyond the bottom edge of said closure in the closed position thereof,

and said cutter being free to pivot relative to said closure in the open position of said door whereby the rolled sheet material may be loaded and unloaded safely,

and a plurality of roll-support means detachably connected between the side walls of said housing,

said roll-support means being vertically spaced to support the respective cores of said rolls of sheet material in a manner so that the free end of the material of each of said roll overhangs and extends through,

the slotted opening,

each of said roll means including:

a spindle extended between said side wall forming means,

said spindle being adapted to extend through the core of the roll supported thereon,

said spindle including means for frictionally engaging the core of said rolled material,

means for biasly supporting said spindle between said side wall forming means,

a turn-knob connected to one end of the spindle,

said turn-knob extending to the exterior of said housing whereby said spindle and roll of sheet material secured thereto may be rotated for dispensing the sheet material from said roll,

and means for prohibiting rotation of said spindle in a direction to effect rewinding of the sheet material unless an axial force is applied to the spindle to overcome the bias of said biasing means.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said spindle is cruciform in cross-section having enlarged end portion adapted to frictionally engage the internal surface of the core of said roll of sheet material supported there- 15. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said biasing means includes a spring loaded ball catch connected to one end of said spindle which is adapted to bear against one side wall means of said housing, and a ratchet means connected to bear against the other side wall of said housing, and a cooperating pawl formed on the said wall means of said housing adjacent said ratchet means to normally restrict the rotation of said spindle and roll supported thereon in one direction only.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM W. DYER, 111., Primary Examiner.

J. M. MEISTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING SHEET MATERIALS PACKAGED IN ROLLS ON TUBULAR CORES COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING HAVING OPPOSED SIDE WALL FORMING MEANS, A TOP WALL CONNECTED THEREBETWEEN, AND A BACK FORMING WALL CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALL FORMING MEANS TO DEFINE AN OPEN FRONT FOR SAID HOUSING, A CLOSURE FOR SAID OPEN FRONT OF SAID HOUSING, MEANS FOR PIVOTLY CONNECTING SAID CLOSURE TO THE SIDE WALL MEANS OF SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, A CUTTER HAVING A CUTTING EDGE, MEANS PIVOTING SAID CUTTER TO SAID CLOSURE WHEREBY THE CUTTING EDGE OF SAID CUTTER IS DISPOSED IN CUTTING POSITION ADJACENT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID CLOSURE IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE AND PIVOTED TO INOPERATIVE POSITION IN THE OPEN POSITION OF SAID CLOSURE, SAID SIDE WALL FORMING MEANS DEFINING WITH SAID CLOSURE A SLOTTED OPENING AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF ADJACENT SAID CUTTER, SAID SLOTTED OPENING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE IN WIDTH TO SAID CUTTER, AND ROLL-SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED BETWEEN THE SIDE WALL MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THEREBETWEEN A ROLL OF SHEET MATERIAL TO BE DISPENSED. 